MFA Press Statement: Visit of Minister, Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister For The Environment And Water Resources and Second Minister For Foreign Affairs Grace Fu to Madrid, Spain (5 TO 7 May 2013)

        Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Grace Fu visited Madrid, Spain from 5 to 7 May 2013.  On 6 May 2013, she met with Speaker of the Senate of Spain Pío García-Escudero Márquez and Secretary of State for Commerce Jaime García-Legaz.  She was also hosted to dinner by Member of the Spanish Council of State Ms Ana Palacio, together with a group of prominent Spanish personalities from the political, business and academic circles.  On 7 May 2013, Minister Fu had bilateral meetings with Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José Manuel García-Margallo and Speaker of the Congress of Deputies Jesús Posada Moreno.  She also had separate meetings with the Commission of Foreign Affairs and the Commission of Economy and Competitiveness from the Congress of Deputies. 

         Minister Fu and her interlocutors discussed ways to strengthen and deepen bilateral relations between Singapore and Spain.  They noted that there was significant potential for greater economic cooperation, particularly in sectors such as infrastructure and construction, renewable energy, science and technology, and tourism.  Minister Fu also sought Spain's support for the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), which will facilitate greater flows of trade and investment between Singapore, Spain and Europe.  The Spanish leaders and parliamentarians reassured Minister Fu that Spain strongly supported the smooth approval and ratification of the EUSFTA, and welcomed Spanish and Singapore companies to explore growth opportunities in their respective regions.

         Minister Fu had wide-ranging discussions on developments in Spain, Europe and Asia with the Spanish leaders and parliamentarians.  They also briefed Minister Fu on the measures undertaken by the Spanish government to deal with the ongoing challenges of the Eurozone crisis. 

         Minister Fu is accompanied by Member of Parliament Dr Intan Azura Binte Mokhtar, as well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Industry. Minister Fu will next visit Lisbon, Portugal from 7 to 9 May 2013, and Dublin, Ireland from 9 to 10 May 2013.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

7 MAY 2013